Est. 1809

Our Heritage

An eighth-generation family business that has been manufacturing quality malts for over 200 years.

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Founded in 1809, Thomas Fawcett & Sons carries a rich historical heritage. The Company’s production facilities span its history from four working floor maltings to the most up to date Germinating & Kilning Vessels (GKV). Explore how Thomas Fawcett & Sons has grown and adapted through major milestones and historical events over the past 217 years.

1809-1872

The Fawcett family establish their first maltings in Castleford. The family had been barley farming in the region since the 1760s. The maltings remains on the same site, to this day.
In 1809, George III was on the throne in the United Kingdom and the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Linclon, was born.
The malting industry in the UK during the 1800s transformed from a widespread, small-scale craft into an industrialised sector, driven by the growth of large breweries and new technologies. Air conditioning technology allowed year-round malting operation, and the Fawcett family had less time for cricket in summer.

1872-1939

Thomas Percy (TP) Fawcett born in Allerton Bywater, West Yorkshire in 1872.
The Company survives through the First World War and in 1919, TP incorporates the business as a private limited company, Thomas Fawcett and Sons Limited.
In this period, the company operated 13 floor-maltings.
The global drinks industry is hit by a period of prohibition in the USA. Thankfully, this only lasted until 1933.

1939-1960

World War 2 begins and throws the global economy into turmoil. Personal tragedy hits Thomas Fawcett and Sons as the Company’s Transport Director, Francis “Bev” Fawcett is killed at El Alamain in 1942.
Managing Director Thomas Geoffrey Fawcett also fought in WW2 but survived to run the business until 1955. He is succeeded by his 23-year-old son, John Ainslie Fawcett, who would run the business for nearly 50 years.

1960-1995

James Fawcett (7th generation) is born in 1964, and the first non-floor malting technology (Saladin boxes) are introduced to Castleford.
This was a turbulent time for the brewing industry. In 1960, there were 360 breweries in Britain; by the end of the decade, 40% had closed.
The industry became dominated by six national brewing giants, often referred to as the "Big Six": Allied Breweries, Bass Charrington, Courage, Scottish & Newcastle, Watney Mann and Whitbread

1995-2025

James Fawcett meets Bryan Bechard at our first US Trade show and Thomas Fawcett and Sons begin exporting malt to USA through Country Malt Group.
Smaller breweries in the UK begin to succeed as craft beer and spirits boom across the globe.
Thomas Fawcett and Sons invests in modern GKV malting equipment, whilst retaining four working floor maltings. This allows the business to double in size to service an increasing demand for high quality ingredients in the UK, USA, Asia and other global markets.
In 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns and conflicts in the world shake the global economy. A difficult period of economic uncertainty ensues with the hospitality sector hit particularly hard.

2025 - Present

In 2025, James Fawcett is posthumously recognised in the UK by the Society of Independent Brewers Association (SIBA) with a Lifetime Achievement Award for services to the brewing industry.
Mungo and Bevan Fawcett become the 8th Generation of Fawcett’s to run the family business in Castleford.

217 years delivering the very best malts

Quality Guaranteed

Selection. Quality. Taste.

The best products need the best malts. Our ethos has always centered on quality over quantity, and an uncompromised product every time. Batch sizes remain small to ensure consistent quality throughout an extensive product range.

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“Fawcett’s have been supplying our malt for over 30 years. Their malt is of the very highest quality, and the consistency is second to none. They have played an integral part to the creation of our award-winning beers, enabling us to be the only microbrewery to have two Supreme Champion British Beers of the Year; Bluebird Bitter in 1998, and No.9 Barley Wine in 2012.”

Ian Bradley

Coniston Brewing Co.

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